PALESTINE’S LEGAL SCENE –Issue.137

Your weekly survey of the most important publications and activities related to Palestine and law, from local and international sources

14 – 20 August 2022

Issued every Sunday by Law for Palestine

This weekly report reviews the legal dynamics of the Palestine question, and everything related to international law and Palestine. The report includes an account of the most important publications, activities and conferences related to Palestine at the local, regional, international levels. The report further covers decisions, decrees, and judicial orders affecting the Palestinian cause, whether made at the official, academic or public levels. The report aims to be a reference for monitoring, documenting and archiving the latest human rights developments related to Palestine, and to present them to individuals, researchers, study centers, and official, academic and legal institutions concerned.

To view this Volume of Palestine’s Legal Scene, please click here (3 minutes read)

Judicial decrees, decisions, positions, and orders issued by official Palestinian bodies

• The Palestinian MOFAE stressed that the failure of the international community and the US administration to respond to Palestinian demands for immediate action to protect the two-state solution gives the occupying power more time to pounce on remaining opportunities to resolve the conflict. (August 14, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian PM, in response to the attempts to impose the Israeli curriculum on Palestinian schools in Jerusalem, stated “We will defend our children’s right to education in all regions, and we will defend our Palestinian curriculum”. The PM added that he demands the Facebook administration to stop the fierce and unjust campaign launched by the site’s administration on Palestinian content. (August 15, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian MOFAE condemned the illegal execution of young man Muhammad al-Shaham in the town of Kafr ‘Aqab, north of occupied Jerusalem. (August 15, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian MOFAE condemned the letter of authorization from former US President Donald Trump to former Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu about annexing the occupied West Bank what revealed by the Hebrew media. (August 15, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestinian MOFAE said the occupation’s accusation about the Palestinians killing an Israeli soldier was false as it turned out later that he was killed by his colleague. Further, he stated the occupation’s subsequent opening of an investigation into the incident under the direct supervision of the Chief of Staff of the occupation army reveals the racism of the occupation once again in limiting its investigations to cases of killing Israelis. It also reflects the view of the Israeli establishment for the Palestinian citizen as an accused in all cases. (August 16, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Palestine Ministry of Education emphasized the protection of education in Jerusalem in addition to the necessity of ceasing the Israeli violations targeting the Palestinian curriculum. (August 16, 2022).For more details, click hereand here
• Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the approval of new settlement units demonstrates Israel’s determination to undermine the two-state solution. (August 17, 2022). For further details, click here
• The President of the State of Palestine called on European Union countries to support Palestine in obtaining proper UN membership. (August 17, 2022). For further details, click here and here
• The Palestinian MOFAE said that endorsing the building of new settlements represents the Israeli insistence on destroying the two-state solution (August 17, 2022).For more details, click here
• The Palestinian MOFAE condemned the execution of the young man Wassim Nasser abu Khalifa from Nablus by the Israeli occupation forces, as well as its attack on the headquarters of 7 human rights institutions and the seizure of their property. (August 18, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Permanent Representative of the State of Palestine to the UN sent three letters to the UN about Israel, the occupying power, continuing its suppression of Palestinian civil society, in particular human rights monitors and defenders. (August 19, 2022). For further details, click here

Judicial decrees, decisions, positions, and orders issued by official Israeli bodies

• The Jerusalem Post newspaper revealed the content of the letter sent by former US President Donald Trump to former Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he authorized him to annex areas in the West Bank to Israel as long as he accepted a future Palestinian state. (August 14, 2022). For further details, click here
• Israeli PM Yair Lapid said that the recent military operation in the Gaza Strip has achieved all its goals and deterrence has been restored. (August 14, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Military Appeals Court (Ofer Court) refused an appeal submitted to release hunger striker Khalil Awawdeh on the grounds that “he still poses a danger despite the deterioration of his health since he began his hunger strike last December.” (August 15, 2022). For further details, click here

Judicial decrees, decisions, positions, and orders issued by Arab, European, and international bodies

• The Director of the World Bank declared that the Bank is working in cooperation with the Palestinian Authorities in moving from emergency programs to strategic plans, which aim to boost development in Palestine and empower the private sector. (August 14, 2022). For further details, click here
• The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, commenting on the shooting incident in Jerusalem, said “It is deplorable that Palestinian factions continue to glorify such attacks, which undermine the possibility of a peaceful future for both Palestinians and Israelis,” adding “I urge all to condemn violence and stand up to terror”. (August 14, 2022). For further details, click here
• The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process is “disturbed by the killing of a Palestinian man, Mohammad Al-Shaham, by Israeli Security Forces at his home in Kufur Aqab in disputed circumstances,” stressing that “this requires an immediate, independent and thorough investigation.” (August 14, 2022). For further details, click here
• The European Union representative in the West Bank and Gaza confirmed the European Union’s multi-year contribution to the UNRWA program budget for 2022. (August 16, 2022). For further details, click here
• During a press conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, German Chancellor Olaf Schulz stated that he will not use the term apartheid to describe Israel as it is not the correct term to describe the situation. (August 17, 2022). For further details, click here
• The League of Arab States General Secretariat strongly condemned the new blatant attack by Israeli occupation forces on six civil society human rights institutions in Ramallah. (August 18, 2022). For further details, click here
• EU Member States met Palestinian civil society organizations that have been raided and closed down by Israeli forces and stated they will continue to support them. (August 18, 2022). For further details, click here
• The UK expressed its support for Palestinian civil society in response to the Israeli attacks on Palestinian civil society organizations and St. Andrew’s Church in Ramallah. (August 18, 2022). For further details, click here
• The United Nations Human Rights Office said Israel’s closure of seven Palestinian organizations further shrinks the human rights space. They called on the occupation forces to allow human rights workers to carry out their work. (August 18, 2022). For further details, click here
• The governments of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden consider the measures taken by Israel against the six Palestinian organizations “unacceptable” and affirm their continued support for the organizations’ work. (August 19, 2022). For further details, click here
• The US administration says that it “does not share Israel’s position” regarding the criminalization of 6 Palestinian NGOs, but it “refuses to condemn Israel” for its raid on the headquarters of these organizations. (August 19, 2022).For further details, click here

Publications of human rights NGOs

• Led by Physicians for Human Rights, 15 Israeli human rights organisations, and over 50 Palestinian and Israeli doctors have joined forces to demand that Israel release prisoner Khalil Awawda and end its administrative detention policy. (August 15, 2022). For further details, click here
• Addameer Foundation for Human Rights sent an urgent appeal to the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health regarding the serious health situation of detainee Khalil Awawdeh in Israeli prisons, calling for exerting pressure to release him immediately and save his life. (August 16, 2022). For further details, click here
• Human Rights Watch demanded the release of human rights detainee Salah al-Hammoury and believes that withdrawing his Jerusalem residency status would set a precedent for the expulsion of Palestinians. (August 16, 2022).For further details, click here
• The Al Mezan Center and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights condemned the Israeli occupation forces’ continued violations against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip, include the most recenta rrest by Israeli naval forces of four fishermen west of Beit Lahia town and the confiscation of two boats on board. (August 16, 2022). For further details, click here
• The International Center for Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court against Israel for property crimes against Palestinians in Gaza and Sheikh Jarrah in collaboration with Bindmans LLP. (August 17, 2022).For further details, click here
• In separate statements, the Independent Commission for Human Rights and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights urge the European Union and the High Contracting States to take immediate action to compel the Israeli occupation to reverse its decision to close the sevel Palestinian civil society institutions and stop all violations against them. (August 18, 2022). For further details, click here
• Human Rights Watch urges the international community to put pressure on Israeli authorities to end its fifteen-year-old policy of siege and repeated aggression against the Gaza Strip. (August 18, 2022). For further details, click here
• Al-Haq called on the international community to act immediately in the aftermath of the Israeli occupation forces’ raid on Al-Haq’s offices as well as the offices of other institutions “classified” as terrorist, wreaking havoc and closing them down. (August 18, 2022).For further details, click here
• Human Rights Watch calls for the release of the human rights defender, Salah Hamouri and regards the revocation of his residency status in Jerusalem as permission to expel more Palestinians. (August 16, 2022).For further details, click here
• Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights condemned the ongoing Israeli violations against Gazan fishermen in Palestinian Territorial Waters. The latest of these is the confiscation of two fishing boats in addition to the arrest of four fishermen in the west of Beit Lahia. (August 16, 2022). For more details, click here
• The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East condemns the Israeli occupation forces’ attack on St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ramallah. (August 18, 2022). For further details, click here
• Eight Irish NGOs sent a letter to the Irish Foreign Minister, Simon Coveney, to defend Palestinian civil society against illegal Israeli actions and demand that Israel should be punished for “this cowardly act that was carried out in the middle of the night”. (August 18, 2022). For further details, click here
• B’Tselem stands in solidarity with the Palestinian civil society organizations that were raided by the Israeli army and says it will continue to work with its colleagues in Palestinian NGOs to dismantle the apartheid system. (August 18, 2022). For further details, click here
• Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) sent a letter to the Canadian Foreign Minister, Melanie Joy, urging her to hold Israel responsible for its attack on Palestinian civil society organizations, condemn Israel’s “terrorist” designation of 6 Palestinian civil society organizations, and protect the work of Human rights defenders in Palestine. (August 18, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Secretary-General of the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), expressed his shock at the raids and closures of offices by the Israeli army for Palestinian civil society organizations, and said “canceling Palestine’s primary rule of law organizations is unprecedented even in the long history of occupation”. (August 18, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) calls on US President Biden to speak out against the Israeli forces’ raids on the offices of several Palestinian human rights organizations. (August 18, 2022). For further details, click here
• Human Rights Watch, International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net), FIDH, European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Law for Palestine (L4P) condemn the Israeli occupation forces’ attack on the seven Palestinian civil society organizations in Ramallah and expresses their solidarity with them. (August 18, 2022).
• Front Line Defenders condemns Israeli security force raids and closures of the offices of seven Palestinian human rights organizations and calls on all stakeholders to clearly and unequivocally reject the terrorism charges brought against Palestinian human rights organizations and human rights defenders. (August 19, 2022). For further details, click here
• Amnesty International said the Israeli authorities must end their campaign of repression against Palestinian civil society and let organizations carry out their work free from harassment. (August 19, 2022). For further details, click here
• The British Palestinian Council sent a letter to the British Foreign Secretary to take immediate action to protect the work of human rights defenders in Palestine after the Israeli military forces attacked Palestinian NGOs. (August 19, 2022). For further details, click here
• The Arab Observatory for Human Rights condemned the closure of seven Palestinian organizations by the Israeli occupation forces and considers it “an integral part of the comprehensive aggression against the Palestinian existence.” (August 20, 2022). For further details, click here

Human rights conferences and events

• The Palestine Liberation Organization’s Department of Human Rights and Civil Society is organising a solidarity stand against the storming and closure of human rights and civil institutions in Ramallah. (August 18, 2022). For further details, click here